[Performance assessment of hospitals affiliated with Iran University of medical sciences: application of economic techniques in health care area]

Introduction: hospitals are considered as one of the main health delivery systems and the largest and most expensive operational units that have specific importance and sensitivity. This study was conducted to assess the performance of hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences applying economical techniques

Methods: this was a cross sectional with a data panel study conducted in 16 hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2006-2012. Two forms according to research objectives were designed one for registering Pabon Lasso indexes and the other for DEA inputs and outputs. Excel software was used for analyzing the former data and Windeap 2.1 for estimating the efficiency and productivity indexes of the hospitals

Results: Pabon Lasso Model shows that in the years 2007 and 2011 the number of hospitals in the third zone was at the maximum level. Furthermore, the mean of technical and managerial efficiency was at the maximum level [0.889 +/- 0.135, 0.909 +/- 0.142] in 2011. Malmquist index shows that during the study period the mean of total productivity changes was 1.018 indicating a decrease in hospital productivity during the study period

Conclusion: it seems that system changes in Iran University of Medical Sciences has led to negative fluctuations in efficiency and productivity indexes of the hospitals. Applying managerial approaches along with reassessing the indexes after managerial status of the University is suggested

[ survey of health sector from the perspective of economics and its relationship with other sectors in Iran's economy]

Introduction: Health sector is one of the most important sectors in the economy of any country with its products being on demand by individuals and households. This study was done in order to survey the health sector in Iran's economy using input-output analysis

Methods: In this analytical study all economic sectors in Iran were compared using input-output Technique. Ultimately, linkages, importance index, dependency degree of health sector were computed among the 18 aggregated sectors

Results: Health sector does not have remarkable effect on other sectors because of low backward linkage. The low forward linkage has an inappropriate place in providing intermediate data. This sector has the highest degree of dependency on industry products and the lowest on the mining sector. The first sector depending on health is the health itself followed by education whereas the real estate sector has the lowest dependency on health

Conclusion: Having a coefficient less than one compared to other sectors, the health sector has a smaller role in inducing production processes and integrating the economy. Moreover, its motivation depends on other sectors' motivation. Also, the end products of health sector are consumed in final demand form

Reform in medical and health sciences educational system: a Delphi study of faculty members' views at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Despite the strengths in the Iranian medical and health sciences educational system, areas in need of improvement have been noted. The purpose of this study was to understand the views of faculty members at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences about current and future needs for medical and health sciences education, with the goal of improving the quality of the educational system. The data were collected using a Delphi consensus method. Analysis of the findings identified the following key themes among the factors likely to contribute to medical and health sciences education and training: adding and/or increasing student numbers in higher degrees in preference to associate degrees; providing more interactive, student-centred teaching methods; improving the educational content with more practical and research-based courses tailored to society's needs; and an emphasis on outcome-based student evaluation techniques. These changes aim to respond to health trends in society and enhance the close relationship between medical education and the needs of the Iranian society

Research priorities in medical education in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Ways are needed to effect quality improvement in medical education research in the Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMR]. This study aimed to determine the principle themes and to draw up a list of priorities in medical education research in EMR. Using the nominal group technique with a group of 30 experts, a list of major themes in medical education research was prepared. In a 2-round Delphi survey the list was sent to another 47 experts in the Region with a questionnaire that included open questions about change and reform in medical education. In the final list of 20, the 5 highest priorities identified were: training physicians to be effective teachers; community-driven models for curriculum development; clinical teaching models; education about professionalism and ethics; and education for evidence-based medicine. Themes determined by this survey can help researchers in EMR to focus on priority areas in research

Sexuality after breast cancer: need for guideline

Clinical experiences have revealed that patients with breast cancer experience various sexual problems following their treatment. Breast cancer negatively impacts the sexual life of the afflicted couples, and as a traumatic event can influence women's psychosexual functioning and intimate relationship. This review focuses on sexuality after breast cancer and on a growing need for bio-psycho-social guidelines for breast cancer treatment. This study aims to review the literature on management, psychological outcomes and sexual dysfunction in patients with breast cancer. Although the benefits of the current treatment strategies are well established, many cancer survivors are at risk for developing psycho physiological symptoms including sexual dysfunction. Cancer and treatment-related factors can influence sexual functioning. We review current treatment -related side effects on sexual functioning such as desire, arousal and orgasm in breast cancer patients. Despite the impact of medical treatment on survival of patients with breast cancer, no satisfactory steps have been taken towards improving sexual functioning of these patients. Breast cancer affects many aspects of sexuality, including changes in physical functioning and in the perception of feminity. Sexual dysfunction following breast cancer should be diagnosed and managed as a systematic approach with multidisciplinary inputs. Healthcare professionals should assess the effects of medical and surgical treatment on the sexuality of breast cancer survivors

Euthanasia in cancer patients, Islamic point of view

Euthanasia is an important subject that concerns law and medicine as well as morality and religion in the 21[St] century. Euthanasia has become a challengeable problem in scientific arena. In some countries, legal and medical practitioners are allowed to kill those cancer patients who suffer from excessive pain while incur enormous amount of expenses for their treatments. We used 3 main sources to find Islamic views on euthanasia: First, the Islamic primary source, the Holy Quran, which is the most important and reliable source for finding Islamic perspectives. Second, traditions [hadith] which include Prophet Mohammad's and his relatives's [Imams] advices. Third, religious opinions and decrees [Fatwas] from great Muslim scholars who are called Mofti Al-Aazam in Sunni tradition and Ayatollah Al-Ozma in Shiite tradition. Based on the reasons proposed in the references, it can be concluded that euthanasia is forbidden in Islamic theology; and no types of euthanasia are allowed or accepted in Islam; and any action whether voluntary or involuntary that results in euthanasia of cancer patients is considered suicide and is strongly forbidden in Islam. Euthanasia is purely illegal in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In this study, we introduced a religious law based on Islamic point of view and Emamyeh section in Islam. To investigate the sensitive issue of euthanasia in Islam, the Holy Quran as the fundamental reference of Islamic law and Sonnah as the reference of Hadith [Traditions] were studied

Talents for future: report of the second national medical science Olympiad in Islamic Republic of Iran

This report describes a unique experience of Second National Medical Science Olympiad that was held in August 2010 in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran. The history of medical science Olympiad in Iran and the development, process and domains in the Olympiad and the way for future will be discussed

Application of water pinch technology for water and wastewater minimization in aluminum anodizing industries

This study aims to describe the application of water pinch technology in industrial water consumption management in aluminum anodizing industry. Water pinch analysis is a systematic technique for designing, optimization and retrofitting of energy, mass and water recovery networks. The selection of different operations existing in an industry has an important role in correctness of application of pinch technology. Water usages in anodizing industry are various, but researches have been shown that, it has the best efficiency on the selection of rinsing chambers to pinch technology. There are different methods in pinch technology mostly based on mass transfer of single or multiple contaminants. In this research, a new method is used to select effective contaminant to be applied to pinch analysis. This research is based on Mann and Liu's method in single contaminant. But "the guide for classification of raw water, wastewater and recycled water for industrial and recreation" is chosen to use a complex of index contaminants as a single contaminant. This method is very simple and applicable for various industrial processes. By an index contaminant like total dissolved solids, the water usage reduced about 6.7%. Using pinch technology and this new approach in three rinsing chambers, water usage reduced about 14.4%